Sheet-supporting device



E. P. JENNINGS. SYHEET SUPPORTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24.1919.

PatentedSept. 27,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- [me/son I? Jenni/y:

ATTORNEY.

E. P. JENNINGS. SHEET SUPPQRTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24.1919.

PatentedSept. 27, 1921.

2 sums-sum 2.

- printing UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

SHEET-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Original application filed March 30, 1916, Serial No. 87,725. Dividedand this ber 24, 1919. Serial No. 340,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMERSON P. JENNINGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lehighton, in the county of Carbon and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSheet- Supporting Devices, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a tympan gage,

or sheet supporting device, for use in sheet feeding devices forprinting presses, and is a division of the application for patent onsheet feeding mechanism filed by me March 30, 1916, Serial No. 87,725.

The object of the invention is to provide a gage or supporting devicewhich will accurately position a sheet upon the platen and which will beautomatically withdrawn to permit the removal of the sheet; to providesuch a device which will be positively operated from the cooperatingparts of the of the invention will appear ism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation, partly brokenaway, of a press, showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is abot-tom plan view of the platen showing the sheet supporting deviceattached thereto; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the slidablebearing for the finger shaft and the spring latter; Fig. 4 is asectional view showing the retaining device,- Fig. 5 is a detail viewshowingthe tripping mechanism, with the parts separated; and Fig. 6 is aside elevation of a portion of the platen showing the mechanism appliedthereto.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave the platen, but it will be understood that this Specification ofLetters Patent.

press comprises a main frame for actuating the Patented Sept. 27, 1921.application filed Novem-' particular embodiment is shown for the purposeof illustration only and that the invention is applicable to feedingmechanisms and presses of various kinds.

As shown in the present drawings the side memb normally provided witguide-ways 3 having slidably mounted therein blocks 4 which carry acombined form-bed and guide blocks, and consequently the combinedform-bed and inking drum are moved alon the gu1de-ways in a right linetoward and e of power. Mounted on the main frame but above the platen 2is a sheet separating device 10. This device, obviously, forms no part 0the present invention and it need be' described in detail as a fulldescription thereof will be found in the above mentioned application.Sufiice it to say that the mech the edge of the lowermost sheet from apile plication and will be described here only to the extent which withthe form-bed, preferably by securing one end of the rack bar to one ofthe slide locks 4. Cooperating with the conveying mechanism are platengrippers, 17, which are in the form of depending fingers carried byslide bars 18 which are provided with studs 19 arranged to enter groovesin cam plates 20 carried by the rack bars 12, wherebythe platen grippersare moved into and out of engagement with the sheet in timed tympan andso arranged relation to the movement of the other parts of themechanism. The feeding mechanism also comprises delivery grippers 21which are carried by L-shaped arms 22 mounted on a shaft 23 to whichrocking movement is imparted to move the grippers toward and from thelower edge of the platen, this movement being preferably imparted to theshaft through means of a sprocket wheel and chain connection with theshaft 14. Suitable mechanism is provided for opening and closing thejaws of the delivery grippers at the proper times to cause them to gripthe lower edge of the sheet which is on the platen so that the sheet maybe withdrawn thereby upon the rearward movement of the arms 22;

It is desirable that stops or supporting devices of some kind beprovided to accurately position the sheet upon the face of the platenwhen it is fed thereto by the conveying mechanism, and further thatthese devices should be moved out of the path of the sheet to permit thesame to be moved across the lower edge of the platen by the deliverymechanism. This support may be of any suitable character which willproperly engage and support the sheet, and which will not interfereeither with the operation of the delivery devices, or with the movementof the form. In the present construction I have provided a supportingdevice which is arranged normally in a position to support the sheet,and is automatically moved out of its supporting position to permit theremoval of the sheet by the delivery mechanism. As here shownthis'device comprises a shaft 24 mounted adjacent to, and preferablyjust below the lower edge of the platen, and arranged for both rotatorymovement and for bodily transverse movement. These movements may besecured in different ways, but preferably the shaft is mounted inelongated bearings 25 secured to the lower edge of the platen. Mountedon the shaft 24 and arranged at intervals along its length are aplurality of supporting devices or gages, so arranged that when theshaft. is in its normal position they will project beyond the face ofthe platen and beyond the tympan which is carried thereby, and willreceive the lower edge of the sheet which is on the platen and limit itsdownward movement. Each supporting device preferably comprises asupporting finger 26 rigidly secured to the shaft and so arranged withrelation to the lower edge of the platen that the edge of the sheet whenin engagement therewith will extend slightly beyond said lower edge ofsaid platen to permit it to be engaged by the delivery grippers. I havealso shown in connection with each supporting device a second finger,27, which is curved upwardly to a point in front of the that it can betwo in number and each comprises a the forward end moved into engagementwith the lower portion of the sheet to hold the same against the tympanduring the taking of the impression. Any suitable means may be employedfor retaining the shaft in its normal position and, in the presentinstance, a spring 28 is coiled about the shaft near one end thereof andserves to retain the same normally in a position to support the fingers26 in substantially horizontal positions, and other devices act on theshaft to hold the same normally in its foremost position so that theends of the upwardly curved fingers 27 will be spaced a short distancefrom the face of the tympan to enable the sheet to pass between the sameand the tympan. These last-mentioned devices are preferably finger 29having its upper end arranged to bear against a slide bar 30 connectedwith the shaft 24:. The lower end of the finger 29 bears against theadjacent portion of a depending arm, or plate, 31, secured to th eadjacent bearing 25 and the point of contact between the bearing and theplate constitutes a fulcrum about which the finger is moved. The fingeritself may be resilient, but I prefer to utilize a supplemental springand have here shown a bolt 32 extending through the finger 29 and thedepending plate 31, with its head bearing against the rear surface ofthe finger, and having a spring 33 coiled about the same between theforward surface of the plate 31 and the nut 3 f on of the bolt. Thetension of the spring is thus exerted on the shaft through the finger 29and the slide bar 30, and this tension may be regulated by adjusting theposition of the nut 34L on the bolt. The shaft is moved rearwardly tocarry the fingers 27 into engagement with the sheet just prior to thecontact of the form with the sheet, and thismovement is preferablyaccomplished by the form-bed, or a part carried thereby. In theconstruction here shown slide bars 35 are secured to the respective endsof the shaft, near the outer ends of the bearings 25, and are arrangedin the path of a part carried by the form-bed, such as the type chase.The slide bars project such a distance in front of the form thatsufficient movement will be imparted thereto by the form-bed to causethe fingers to engage the sheet just in advance of the taking of theimpression. The resiliency of the fingers 27 enables a further slidingmovement to be imparted to the shaft after the fingers have engaged thesheet, to enable the form to come in contact with the sheet, and thebars 35 are preferably provided with adjusting devices, such as setscrews 36, by means of which the amount of movement imparted thereto bythe form-bed can be regulated.

In the operation of the press the movement of the parts is so timed thatduring the taking of the impression the conveying grippers will be belowthe platen and the delivery grippers will be in their retractedpositions. As the form-bed begins to move outwardly after the taking ofthe impression the conveying grippers move upwardly and the deliverygrippers move toward the platen so that when the form-bed reaches thegrippers will have gripped another sheet at the separating device andthe delivery grippers will have gripped the lower edge of the sheet onthe platen. cans are, therefore, provided to hold the shaft 24 in itsretracted position until the delivery grippers have engaged the edge ofthe sheet. To accomplish this suitable detent devices are provided eachof which, as here collar 37 having on the a shoulder 38 and providedwith a guide shoulder 38 of the collar onthe shaft when the latter is inits retracted position. The shoulder on the resilient finger 41 extendslaterally beyond the collar 37 and into the path of a cam 43 mounted onthe shaft adjacent to the collar 37 and adapted to move the shoulder 42into an inoperative position when the shaft is rotated, as will behereinafter described, thus releasing the shaft and permitting it to bemoved forwardly under the influence of the spring actuated devices 29.Means are provided for rotating the shaft to carry the supportingfingers out of the path of the sheet before the delivery grippers begintheir rearward movement. l Vhile this may be accomplished in variousways I preferably employ one of the vertically movable rack bars, whichcarry the conveying grippers, to impart turning movement to the shaft.

carrying said cam plate a trip arm which is so connected with the shaft24 that it will yield to permit the cam plate 44 to pass the same uponthe upward movement'of the rack bar and it will be engaged and actuatedby said cam plate upon the first portion of the downward movement of therack bar, thus rocking the shaft and moving the supporting fingers intotheir inoperative positions. Because of the slack in the sprocket chainby means of which the delivery grippers are operated these grippers donot begin to move immediately upon the downward movement of the rackbars, and this slight interval of time is suflicient to permit themovement of the supportingfingers into their inoperative positionsbefore the delivery grippers begin to withdraw the sheet from the plVhile this trip arm may be connected with the shaft in any suitablemanner I have found the arrangement here shown very efiicient. The arm45 is pivotally mounted at one end upon a pin 46 carried by a collar 47mounted on and rigidly secured to the adjacent end of the shaft 44. Thetrip arm is provided with a transversely elongated opening 48 to receivethe reduced end of the shaft 24, which projects beyond the collar 47 andwhich forms a fulcrum about which the arm rotates to actuate the collar47 and the shaft 24. This elongated opening permits of the upwardmovement of the trip arm to enable the cam plate to pass the same whenthe latter begins its downward move- The cam plate 44 holds thesupporting fingers in their retracted positions until the sheet has beenwithdrawn and the shaft is then released to permit the return of thefingers to their normal position-s, the detents 41 having been releasedwhen the shaft is rotated, to permit of the forward movement of thesame. I

The operation of the device will be readily understood from theforegoing description parts thereof, and I wish it to be understood thatI do not desire to be limited to the details shown and described asvarious modifications will occur to one skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a printing couple comprising a fixed member anda movable member arranged with their operative faces in substantiallyvertical planes, of a sheet supporting device mounted near the loweredge of said fixed member for movement into a position wholly in therear of the plane of the face of said fixed member or into a positionintersecting said plane, and having a part movable into and out ofholding engagement with a sheet supported by said device, and means forcontrolling the movement of said part in timed relation to the movementof said movable member.

2. The combination with a printing couple comprising a fixed member anda movable member, of a sheet supporting device arranged near the loweredge of said fixed member and, having a part movable into a positionwholly in the rear of the plane of the face of said fixed member or intoa position intersecting swid: plane, and having another part movableinto a position to engage the face of the sheet near the lower edge tomove both of thereof when the first mentioned part is in a positionintersecting said plane, an means for controlling the movement of saidparts in timed relation to the movement of said movable member.

3. The combination with a printing couple comprising a fixed member anda movable member, of a sheet supporting device arranged near the loweredge of said fixed member and having a part movable into a positionwholly in the rear of the plane of the face of said fixed member or intoa position intersecting said plane, and having another part movable intoa position to engage the fa e of the sheet near the lower edge thereofwhen the first mentioned part is in a position intersecting said plane,and means for moving said sheet supporting device in one direction tocause the last mentioned part to engage the sheet and for moving saidsheet supporting device in another direction said parts into positionsto permit the movement of the sheet across the lower edge of said fixedmember.

The combination withaprinting couple, comprising a fixed member and amovable member, of a sheet supporting device arranged near the loweredge of said fixed member and having a part movable into and out ofsupporting position, and having another part movable into and out ofposition to engage the face of the sheet near the lower edge thereof, adevice connected with said last-mentioned part and arranged in the pathof said movable member to move said part into operative position, and.an operative connection between said movable member and said sheetsupporting device to move both of said parts away from the edge of saidfixed member.

The combination withaprinting couple, comprisin a fixed member and amovable member, of a sheet supporting device pivotally supported nearthe lower edge of said fixed member and having a part movable into andout of supporting position, means for holding said part in supportingposition, and other means for imparting pivotal movement to said sheetsupporting device to move said part into an operative position.

6. The combination withaprinting couple, comprising a fixed member and amovable member, and a sheet conveying device movable across the face ofsaid fixed member, of a sheet supporting device mounted near the loweredge of said fixed member and having a part movable into and out ofsupporting position, means for holding said part in supporting position,and means actuated by said sheet conveying device to move said part intoan inoperative position.

7. The combination with a printing couple, comprising a fixed member anda movable member, and a sheet delivery device to remove the printedsheet from said fixed member, of a sheet supporting device arranged nearthe lower edge of said fixed member and having a part movable into andout of supporting position, means to hold said part in said position,and means to move said part into inoperative position after saiddelivery dev ce has gripped the sheet and before it has begun itsdelivery movement.

8. The combination with a printing couple,

comprising a fixed member and a movable member, of a sheet supportingdevice arranged near the lower edge of said fixed member and having apart capable of both a pivotal movement and a bodily movementtransversely to the face of said fixed member, and means for causingboth of said movements in timed relation to the movement of said movablemember.

9. The combination with aprinting couple, comprising a fixed member anda movable member, of a sheet supporting device arranged near the loweredge of said fixed member and having a part supported normally in aposition to support the sheet on said fixed member and having anotherpart arranged to be moved into and out of a position to engage the loweredge of said sheet, said sheet supporting device being capable of bodilymovement transversely to the face of said fixed member to move thelast-mentioned part into engagement with the sheet, and being capable ofpivotal movement to move both of said parts into inoperative positions,and means for causing both of said movements in timed relation to themovement of said movable member.

10. The combination with a printing couple, comprising a fixed memberand a movable member, of a sheet supporting device comprising a shaftmounted near the lower edge of said fixed member for both rotatorymovement and bodily movement transversely to its length, fingers carriedby said shaft, means for holding said fingers normally in positions tosupport a sheet in front of said fixed member, and means actuated intimed relation with the movable member of said printing couple to impartbodily movement to said shaft and to rotate the same to move saidfingers into their inoperative positions 11. The combination with aprinting couple, comprising a fixed. member and a morable member, of asheet supporting device comprising a edge of said fixed member for bothrotatory movement and bodily movement transversely to its length,fingers carried by said shaft and means for holding said fingersnormally in positions to support a sheet in front of said fixed member,means actuated in timed relation with the movable member of saidprinting couple to impart bodily movement to said shaft and to rotatethe same to move said fingers into their inoperative positions,

shaft mounted near the lower springs tending to move said shaft towardngers carried by said shaft to support the sheet and retain the loweredge thereof in engagement with said fixed member, means arranged in thepath of said movable member to impart transverse movement to said shaft,and means operativ-ely connected with said movable member to impartrotatory movement to said shaft.

13. The combination with a printing couple, comprising a fixed memberand a movable member, of a sheet supporting device comprising a shaftmounted near the lower edge of said fixed member for both rotatorymovement and bodily movement transversely to the same, fingers carriedby said shaft to engage the lower portion of a sheet and support thesame in proper relation to said fixed member, springs tending to holdsaid shaft normally in its foremost position and to hold said fingers intheiroperative positions, means arranged in the path. of the movablemember of said printing couple to impart transverse movement to saidshaft, a trip finger connected with said shaft to impart rotatorymovement thereto, and an actuating member arranged to operatively engagesaid trip finger and operatively con nected with said movable member.

14. The combination with a printing couple, comprising a fixed memberand a rotatory member, of a sheet supporting device comprising a shaftmounted at the lower edge of said fixed member for both rotatorymovement and bodily transverse movement, a series of'fingers secured tosaid shaft and arranged to project beyond the face of said fixed memberand support the sheet in front thereof, a spring acting on said shaft tohold said fingersnormally in their supporting positions, other fingerssecured to said shaft and adapted to extend above the lower edge of saidfixed member when the first-mentioned fingers are in their supportingpositions, springs to hold said shaft normally in its foremost position,parts connected with said shaft and arranged in the path of said movablemember to move said shaft rear-- wardly, a detent to hold said shaft inits rearmost position, means carried by said shaft to release saiddetent when rotatory movement is imparted to said shaft, and an a t gevice to i p r tat y move ment to said shaft, said ing operativelymember.

15. The combination with a normally staonary member of a printingcouple, and means to feed a sheet to and from printing position withrelation to said member, of a device mounted near one edge of saidmemactuating device beconnected with said movable her and intoengagement with the face of said sheet to hold it in said position, and

, means controlled by said feeding mechanism to move said device out ofthe path of said sheet to permit the latter to be withdrawn from saidmember.

16. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printingcouple, and means to'feed a sheet to and from printing position withrelation to said member, of a device mounted near one edge of saidmemher and movable first into the path of said sheet to limit itsiovement relatively to said member, then into gripping engagement withsaid sheet, andthen out ofthe path of said sheet, and means controlledby said feedin means to actuate said device.

The combination with a normally stamember of a printing couple and meansto feed a sheet to and from printing position with relation to saidmember, of a device mounted near one edge of said member and movableinto the path of said sheet to position the same with relation to saidmember, and comprising a part pivotally mounted and arranged to be movedinto engagement with said sheet to clamp the same against the face ofsaid member upon one movement of said device, and to he means controlledby said feeding means to actuate said device.

18. In a printing press the combination with a stationary member of aprinting couple, of a shaft mounted at the lower edge of said stationarymember for bodily movement transversely thereto, and sheet supand pathof a sheet as the latter is moved onto and off said stationary member.

In a printing press the combination with a stationary member of aprinting couple, of a rotatable shaft mounted at the lower edge of saidstationary member for movement transversely thereto, and sheetsupporting members connected with said shaft and movable thereby intoand out of the path of a sheet as the latter is fed off said stationarymember.

20. In a printing press, the combination with a stationary member of aprinting couple, of a sheet supporting devicemounted at the lower edgeof said stationary member for bodily movement transversely to the edgeof the stationary member and for pivotal movement about an axis parallelwith the face of said stationary member, and means for actuating saidsheet supporting device.

21. In a printing press, the combination with a stationary member of aprinting couple, of a plurality of supporting devices mounted at thelower edge of said stationary member for movement into and out of theplane of the face thereof, means for causing said devices to projectbeyond the face of said stationary member to receive a sheet, for movingsaid devices into holding engagement with said sheet and for withdrawingsaid devices.

22. In a printing press, the combination with a stationary member of aprinting conple, of a series of fingers arranged at the lower edge ofsaid stationary member and mounted for both sliding and pivotalmovement, means for causing said fingers to project beyond the face ofthe stationary member to receive the sheet, to move the same intoclamping engagement with said sheet, and to rock the same about a commonaxis to move them out of the path of said sheet.

23. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printingcouple having its face in a substantially vertical plane, of a devicepivotally mounted adjacent to the lower edge of said member and havingbodily movement transversely to the face thereof into a position toreceive a sheet and support the same in proper relation to said member,and cam controlled means to actuate said device.

24. The combination with the stationary member of a printing cOuple, andmeans to feed a sheet to and from printing position with relation tosaid member, of a device mounted near one edge of said member andmovable into the path of said sheet to position the same with relationto said member, and a cam operatively connected with said feeding meansto control the movement of said device.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afilX my signature.

' EMERSON P. JENNINGS.

